U.S. conservative commentator Glenn Beck offers help as Sask. woman's struggle to get surgery gains attention
CBC
An American conservative political commentator says he wants to help connect a Saskatchewan woman who has struggled for years to access specialized surgery for a rare disease with doctors in the U.S.
Glenn Beck, founder of the conservative media company TheBlaze, posted on X Tuesday that he would help arrange treatment in the United States for Jolene Van Alstine, whose story has drawn widespread attention.
Van Alstine told reporters two weeks ago that she'd been approved for medical assistance in dying (MAID) on Jan. 7, and was considering assisted dying because she couldn't get the needed surgery for her rare disease in Saskatchewan, or a referral out-of-province.
In a series of posts, Beck said surgeons had contacted his organization offering assistance. He later said his team was in contact with Van Alstine and her husband.
Beck also shared her story as an example for his critiques of Canada’s health-care system.
"THIS is the reality of ‘compassionate’ progressive healthcare," Beck wrote in a repost of an excerpt of Jolene’s story. "Canada must END this insanity and Americans can NEVER let it spread here."
Van Alstine’s partner, Miles Sundeen, confirmed he was contacted Tuesday by Beck's staff on X.
"He’s offered to pay for at least travel and accommodation expenses, trying to get help for her in the United States," Sundeen said in an interview with CBC on Tuesday.
Sundeen said he has heard from two surgeons in America, though no arrangements have been finalized.
"For us to have it done in the States would be financially impossible otherwise," he said.
Van Alstine has a rare form of parathyroid disease called normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (NPHPT). It causes extreme bone pain, nausea and vomiting.
Sundeen said Van Alstine was taken by ambulance to Regina General Hospital Tuesday morning.
"She’s experiencing a lot of pain in her abdomen, as well as what looks like congestion and possibly pneumonia in her lungs," he said.
She has undergone three surgeries but still requires specialized care to locate and remove an overactive parathyroid gland.
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